IL1B and cancer: IL-1β is a necessary cytokine to induce tumor angiogenesis, and IL-1β−/− mice exhibit impaired blood vessel growth and tumor development.140 The role of IL-1β in tumor metastasis is further supported by data showing that an IL-1R antagonist suppresses metastases of melanoma and improves survival of mice.134 The effects of inflammasome activation on tumor growth and metastasis may be mediated by different cytokines, depending on the cancer type and metastatic site.